Cylinder lock operating connection



Nov. 21, 195o C E. NQJAcOBl 2,530,469

CYLINDER LOCK OPERATING CONNECTION Filed Dec. 10I 1947 .EdT/1752757 Ai J'DZ Patented Nov. 2l, 1950 CYLINDER LOCK PERATING CGNNECTION Edward N. `iacchi, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner t Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application December 10, 1947, Serial No. 790,881

(Cl. 'Y0-379) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to cylinder locks and has more particular reference to locks of the type known as pillar locks.

The main characteristic of pillar locks is that they are provided with an operating shaft projecting from the rear of the lock mechanism and driven by the lock cylinder for the actuation of latch mechanism with which the lock is associated. Frequently it is desirable that the operating shaft be joined with the lock cylinder by a universal jointed connection to accomodate misalignment between the cylinder and the latch mechanism to be actuated; and it is the general object of this invention to provide a pillar lock having an improved universal joint driving connection between the lock cylinder and the operating shaft of the lock.

More specically it is an object of this invention to provide a pillar lock of the character described wherein the operating shaft of the lock has a relatively wide range of universal motion to accommodate a substantial degree of misalignment between the lock cylinder and the latch mechanism operated by the shaft.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a novel coupling element connected between the operating shaft and the lock cylinder of a pillar lock of the character described, by which a substantial degree of universal motion of the operating shaft relative to the lock mechanism is possible.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a highly compact universal joint connection between the lock cylinder and the operating shaft of a pillar lock, which connection is readily detachable upon removal of the lock cylinder from the bore of the casing in which it is journalled and is maintained operative by the lock cylinder when properly secured in the bore.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pillar lock of this invention looking at the rear thereof and showing the operating shaft protruding from the rear end of the lock casing;

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of the lock shown in Figure 1 but with the key removed;

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of the lock of this invention having portions of the lock casing broken away to illustrate details lof the connection between the operating shaft and the lock cylinder;

Figure 4 is a plan View of the lock shown in Figure 3 likewise having portions of the lock casing broken away to illustrate the connection between the operating shaft and the lock cylinder;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the rear end of the lock cylinder and the coupling element `seiziarated therefrom and disconnected from the operating shaft;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken through the coupling element of Figure 5 along the plane of the line E-6 Figure 7 is a sectional view of the coupling element taken along the plane of the line 'l-T of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the inner portion of the operating shaft showing the construction thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 represents the casing or mounting sleeve of the lock which serves to rotatably house a lock cylinder in the bore 'i thereof. For the purpose of this invention, it is sufficient to state that the lock cylinder 6 is readily detachably retained in the casing bore by any suitable means well known in the art.

If desired, however, the lock casing 5 may be provided with a spring retaining blade 8 shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, secured at its forward end 9 in suitable slits l0 in the front portion of the casing and having a rearwardly projecting arm 0 received in a longitudinal groove I i in the casing communicating with its bore The free rear end of the arm 8 is bent inwardly as at l2 out of the groove Il to project into a circumferential groove I3 in the rear of the cylinder for engagement with the forwardly facing shoulder i3 defining one side of the groove to thus detachably retain the cylinder in the casing bore. T0 remove the cylinder, it is only necessary to lift the free end 2 of the spring arm by a suitable tool inserted through an aperture I4 in the lock casing to disengage the arm from the groove I3.

This structure, though shown and briefly described in this application, forms the subject matter of the copending application of the applicant.

3 iiled December 10, 1947, Serial No. 790,882, now Patent No. 2,480,026, issued Aug. 23, 1949, and is described at greater length therein.

The manner in which the cylinder is locked against rotation and unlocked for rotation by means of a suitable key l5 forms no part of this invention and hence-has not been illustrated.

According tothe present invention the lock= casing 5 extends rearwardly beyond the inner end oi the lock cylinder and the rear extremity of the` casing is provided with an inwardly directed annular flange il having a central aperture lli-f therein slightly smaller thanithefdiameter of the bore so as to define a step or.v shoulder laat. the inner end of the bore spaced from the reariendiof.. the cylinder.

The operating shalt is preferably substantially square in cross section and has its, outer free end 2l formed to engage with latch mechanismnnot shown): adapted to. be actuated by ro.- tation o-f the shaft. rIlhe-innerendofthe shaftr projects-through thezaperture. I8v in the flange attherear. orthecasingand enters the bore itc be disposed-adjacent therearendfof the loclccylinder;A

Thefoperatingshaft, 29 is drivingly. connected with the lock. cylinder E to-rotate therewith by means of a novel coupling element 22 conned in the spacebetweenthe flange VI and the-.inner end of thalockcylinder. The coupling element has a central. aperture 23 to-receive the inner end of the operating. shaft, and.` spaced apart opposite jaws 24 on .the rearY of theelement. engage t'wo opposite sides. of: the operatingl shaft'. at. the inner. end thereof.- to provide, a rotation transmitting connection between the coupling and. shaft.

The `operatinggshaf t alsov hasa pivotal' connectionwith the couplingeleznentwhich cooperates. with the jaws 24 for the transmissionA of rotation from thecoupling element to the .operating shaft. This pivotal. connectioncompri'ses axially' aligned. trunnions 26 projecting outwardly from thesides of the shafteengagedby. thejawswith the. trunnionsireceived irl-opposite. bearing slots 2 cut into the front of the coupling element. atl the portions thereof. lying. immediately. forwardly of' the jaws- 24.'

For. purposes ofY assemblym it will4 bev apparent` that' thecouplingf. element is freely. slidabl'e along the operating shaftV andtlat. the engagement. oiw the-trunnionsiinthe. bottoms oai tliebearing slots 2-1: limits such. relative axial sliding moti'onbetweenitheseparts inbnedirection... 1t' is al'sciin.-V portant to note that.thetrunnionsmountlthe cperating. shaft for. pivotal motionrelative to. the coupling elementen an. axis normal'to the axis of the bore l andhto the jaws Z'4`,.and`since the aperture 2'3u in the coupling element is substantially widek adjacent to theA jaws 21a substantial' degree of piyotalmotion. is afforded the operating shaftV relative to the. coupling. element as. indi'- cated in Figures 3-and`4.

The driving connecticn between theV coupling element 224 and the lock cylinder is provided by. means of. a ldriving. lug S0. projecting centrally from the rear of the lock4 cylinder and engaged between spaced.. opposite driving abutments. or jaws 3l on the forward portion of the coupling element. These jaws are. parallel tooneanother. but are disposed at right angles tothe jaws s at the protruding rear portion of the coupling element. The outer sides of the. jaws 5l' are provided with boss-like pads 32' and the edge. portions of these, pads adjacent' to the 'ange i'l' are substantially pointed to provide opposite fulcrums 33 which are adapted to engage the step or shoulder I9 at the bottom of the bore 'l on a line intersecting the axis of the bore and normal to the axis of the trunnions 26 so as to provide for rocking motion of the coupling element in the bore about an axis at right angles to the pivot axis ofthe operating shaft;

The rearedge portionslof thezpadszare arcuately shaped and concentric to the fulcrum points 33 and are adapted to ride or rock upon the adjacent nat end surfaces 36 of the lock cylinder: Hence; it`wi1l be apparent that the couplingelement, `though rotatable in the casing bore; and capablefof rocking motion therein, is conned irL-the space between the flange l1 and the innerend of the lock cylinder by the boss-like pads 32on the coupling element.

The;l coupling element is guided for rocking motion about the fulcrurn points 33 by the engagement off the Kforward extremities of-thefjaws 3| in recesses 3B` in theinner. endfof; the lockx cylinder, one at either side off. the `centralfdriving-jfv lug 30.` Eor this-purpose. it-will be notedy that the, outer edge1portions. 39, of the jaws. 3.! are; arcuate andv concentric. to the fulcrum1 pointsiill;v which denne the axisiof, rockingimotioniofrthe. coupling element -andrthese larcuate.*edges,0f`- the: jaws ride on. complementaryv4 arcuate surfaces. atx the bottomsloffthe recesses 38in thefloclncylinderg.

The f universal j oint thus effected: betweenthe, operating shaft. and thelock, cylinder thus; en, ables.- the shaft. toy befrotated. by the. cylinderA despite the fact-that` the shaftmay, be disposed; at, av substantiakangle. to the cylinder axis. It. will also be apparent. that the operatingl shailtlA is restrained against substantially allaxial-moftionrelative to the.couplingjelementeby theengagernentv of thetrunnionsA 26:r thereonxwith the: bottoms of the bearings.- slots, and by. the proxaimity. of` thedriving lug... :ill-onf thelockcylinderf tothe inner endy of. the shaft.

liny assembly, the. coupling, elementis; slid. onover the free end` ointheoperating.slf1afi'-andthe` trunnionslthereon-engaged in the1bearing slots ofy the couplingl element.. TheJ two. parts; thus connected, are .inserted into the bore. of.: the. lock. casing, from.- its: iront. end. Thereaften the.V loclp. cylinder is insertedl intathe: bore. to. engage;` the. driving.lug.on.its inner. endwiththe.j awsl. om

the coupling element, and the universal, joint;

connection thusestablished ismaintainedloperative, by the spring, arm. 8,' in. its` functiona ofY retalning. the cylinder` in. thefcasing, bore.,

Erom. the foregoing, description taken`v ini. confnection. with the, accompanying', drawings it will bereadily apparent thatthis. invention l provides. a relatively simple. and; inexpensive yetv greatly,

improved` universal. joint connection between the.AV

lock cylinder. of. a pillar. lock.. and. the operating shaftdriventhereby.,

What vL claim as. my invention is 1;.. In. a lock of. the. typehaving a. boredcasing proyided.v witha. lock. cylinder. rotatable. in` the. front portion; oi the: bora, and'N having an; open ating. shaft proj acting, from.. tharear onA the bore. to provide4 for actuation. of. latch mechanism associatediwith the lock,.,a-l universal` joint con nectionfbetween the. operating shaftiandthe. lock cylinder comprising'. aly coupling. element.A con-4 ned in. the r-ear, portion. ot the casing, bore.. betweenr apart. on. the.` casing and thel inner end of the loclc cylinder and guidedfthereby for rota@ tion. in. the casing bore. and :for4 rockingrnotion of. thee couplingelemention anexisnormal; tothe axis of the bore; a driving connection between" the lock lcylinder and the coupling element whereby rotation of the cylinder is transmitted to the coupling'element without interfering with rocking motion of the coupling element in the casing bore; and a connection between the operating shaft and the coupling elem-ent constraining the shaft to rotation with the coupling elementand lock cylinder but permitting swinging motion of the shaft about an axis normal to the rocking axis of the coupling element and relative to the coupling element as well as pivotal motion of the connected shaft and coupling element about the rocking axis of the latter.

` 2. In a'lock of the type having a bored casing and a lock cylinder rotatable in the front portion of thecasing bore, and having an operating shaft projecting from the rear of the boreY to provide for the actuation of latch mechanism with which the lock is adapted to be associated: a coupling element in the rear portion of the casing bore connected between the operating shaft and the inner end of the lock cylinder to transmit rotation from the cylinder tothe operating shaft; and means on the casing at the rear thereof for holding the coupling element in place within the casing bore and engageable with portions of the coupling element to provid-e a fulcruml about which thecoupling element may rock with the axis of rocking motion of the coupling element normal to the axis of the casing bore.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said coupling element is connected between the operating shaft and the loci; cylinder for rocking motion of the shaft and coupling element in unison relative to the lock cylinder with the rocking axis normal to the axis of the cylinder, and for pivotal motion of the shaft relative to the coupling element on an axis normal to the rocking axis of the coupling element.

4. In a lock of the type having a bored casing and a lock cylinder rotatable in the front portion of the casing bore, and having an operating shaft projecting from the rear of the bore to provide for the actuation of latch mechanism with which the lock is adapted to be associated: an inwardly directed annular flange at the rear end of the casing restricting the rear of the casing bore; a coupling element rotatable in the casing bore and conned between said fiange and the inner end of the lock cylinder; means on engaging portions of the coupling element to provide a fulcrum about which the coupling element may roel; on said flange an axis normal to the axis of the casing bore; interengaging means on the coupling element and the inner end of the lock cylinder providing a driving connection between the cylinder and the coupling element, said driving connection allo-wing rocking motion of the coupling element relative to the lock cylinder; and means connecting the operating shaft with the coupling element for rotation therewith and for bodily motion of the operating shaft with the coupling element during rocking motion of the latter, said last named connection permitting pivotal motion of the operating shaft relative to the coupling element about an axis normal to the rocking axis of the coupling element.

5. In a lock of the type having a bored casingfand a lock cylinder rotatable in the front .portion of the casing bore, and having an operating shaft projecting from the rear of the bore to provide for the actuation of latch mechanism with which the lock is adapted to be as- 6 sociated: an annular flange at the rear end of the casing directed inwardly toward said shaft; a coupling element rotatable in said bore and confined between the inner end of the lock 'cylinder and said flange on the casing; means onV said coupling yelement engaging the flange to fulcrum the coupling element for rocking motion about an axis normal to the axis of the casing bore; a rotation transmitting connection between the coupling element and the shaft including a slot in the front portion of the coupling element opening to the rear of the lock cylinder, and a pin on the shaft engaged in said slot to provide for pivotal motion of the shaft relative to the coupling element on an axis normal to the rocking axis of the coupling element; and a rotation transmitting connection between the coupling element and the lock cylinder maintained operative despite rocking of the coupling element relative to the cylinden. including a driver on the rear of the cylinder, and spaced apart jaws on the coupling element lying at opposite sides of the pivot axis of the shaft and between which the driver is received to transmit rotation to the shaft through the coupling element.

6. rhe structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said rotation transmitting connection between the shaft and coupling element includes other spaced apart jaws on the coupling element lying at opposite sides of the rocking axis of the coupling element, and a portion on the adjacent end of the shaft non-rotatably receivedlbetween said jaws to provide a rotation transmitting connection between the shaft and coupling element independent of the pivotal connection therebetween.

7. In a lock of the type having a bored casing and a lock cylinder rotatable in the front portion of the casing bore, and having an operating shaft projecting from the rear of the bore to provide for the actuation of latch mechanism with which the lock is adapted to be associated: an annular flange at the rear end of the casing directed inwardly toward said shaft; a coupling element slidable on the shaft but non-rotatably received on the inner end thereof, said coupling element being rotatably received in said bore and confined between the casing ange and the rear end of the lock cylinder; opposite fulcrum portions on the coupling element abutting the casing flange to provide for rocking motion of thek coupling element about an axis normal to the axis of the bore; opposite trunnions on the inner end of the shaft received in bearing slots in the coupling element opening to the front end of the coupling element to provide for pivotal motion of the shaft relative to the coupling element about an axis normal to the rocking axis of the coupling element, sliding of the shaft inwardly of the bore in a direction to disengage said trunnions from their bearing slots being precluded by the rear end of the lock cylinder; and a rotation transmitting connection between the rear end of the lock cylinder and the coul pling element by which rotation of the cylinder Y' is transmitted to the coupling element and the operating shaft despite rocking motion of the coupling element in the casing bore or pivotal motion of the shaft relative to the coupling element. l

8. In a lock of the type having a bored casing and a lock cylinder rotatable in the front portion of the casing bore and having an operating shaft projecting from the rear of the bore to 

